Endangered Wildlife of Argentina

The Postal Administration of Argentina has issued the WWF stamp set consist of four stamps depicted the endangered wildlife animal  i.e : Pudu (Pudu Puda), Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) on July 27, 2002.

Along with that issuance, the local WWF cover as the First Day Cover also issued with a  special post mark depicted Pampas deer and shown the images of Pampas deer and Pudu Puda on the left-side cover.

Pudu (Pudu Puda) is one of two  Pudu species from genus Pudu. The pudus are  the world's smallest deer.  This pudu range from Southern Chile and Southwestern Argentina. Pudús range in size from 32 to 44 centimeters  tall, and up to 85 centimeters  long. The  other species of Pudus is Pudu mephistophiles .

As of 2009, both species  of Pudus are classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, mainly because of overhunting and habitat loss. Pudu puda is listed in CITES Appendix I, and Pudu mephistophiles is listed in CITES Appendix II. 

The pudú is a solitary animal whose behavior in the wild is largely unknown because of its secretive nature. Pudús are nocturnal and diurnal, but are mostly active in the morning, late afternoon, and evening.

Their home range generally extends about 16 to 25 hectares, much of which consists of crisscrossing pudú-trodden paths. Each pudú has its own home range, or territory.

Large facial glands for scent communication allow correspondence with other pudú deer. Pudús do not interact socially, other than to mate. An easily frightened animal, the deer barks when in fear. Its fur bristles and the pudú shivers when angered.

The Chacoan peccary or tagua (Catagonus wagneri) is a endemic species of peccary found in the Gran Chaco of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina. About 3000 exist in the world. It is believed to be the closest living relative to the extinct genus Platygonus.

 
 

Because the Chacoan peccary is endemic to a formerly isolated region of South America, it is most vulnerable to human activity. Just as quickly as this species is discovered in an area, it disappears. Herd numbers are decreasing as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation.

 

The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) or vicugna is one of two wild South American camelids, along with the guanaco, which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes. Vicuñas live exclusively in South America, primarily in the central Andes.

 
 

They are native to Peru, northwest Argentina, Bolivia and north Chile, and there is a smaller, introduced population in central Ecuador.Peru has the largest number.

Vicuñas live at an altitude of 3,200 to 4,800 metres. They feed in daytime on the grassy plains of the Andes Mountains, but spend the nights on the slopes. The vicuña's thick but soft coat is a special adaptation which traps layers of warm air close to its body so it can tolerate freezing temperatures.

Vicuñas have been protected by law, both under the rule of the Inca and today. Today, the vicuña population has recovered to about 350,000, and while conservation organizations have reduced its level of threat, they still call for active conservation programs to protect population levels from poaching, habitat loss, and other threats.

The product of the vicuña's fur is very soft and warm. It is understood that the Inca valued vicuñas highly for their wool, and that it was against the law for any but royalty to wear vicuña garments.

 

 

The Pampas deer or  Ozotoceros bezoarticus, live in the grasslands of South America at low elevations. They are also known as Venado or Gama.
Their habitat includes water and hills, often with winter drought, and grass that is high enough to cover a standing deer.
 

Many of them live on the Pantanal wetlands, where there are ongoing conservation efforts, and other areas of annual flooding cycles.

Human activity has changed much of the original landscape. They are known to live up to 12 years in the wild, longer if captive, but are threatened due to over-hunting and habitat loss. 

The Pampas deer of southern Argentina once were very abundant but now considered a threatened species by the IUCN.  Their overall decline is due in part from hunting and poaching, but also from habitat loss due to agriculture, diseases from domesticated and feral livestock, competition from more recently introduced wildlife, and general over-exploitation.